2- CORINTHIANS
(Behold a New Creation)
Author: Apostle Paul.
Date: About AD 56-57 after the visit of Ephesus. He wrote this letter from Philippi (Macedonia).
Purpose: To affirm his ministry and to refute the false ministers.
Key people: Paul, Timothy, Titus.
Special features: Paul writes a very straight forward and personal letter.
Key verses:
“Therefore since through God’s mercy, we have this ministry, we do not lose heart”(4:1)
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old as gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (5:17-18)
“Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity”(8:2).
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”(9:7)
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”(12:9)
| Chap. | Title |
| Introduction and background | |
| Paul’s various visits to Corinth | |
| 1 | Consolations and explanation of Paul’s condition. |
| 2 | Forgiveness is the message of Gospel |
| 3 | The glorious Gospel. |
| 4 | Right attitude towards the ministry and suffering. |
| 5 | The future hope of resurrection. |
| 6 | Exhortation on Sanctification. |
| 7 | A great joy when the church repents. |
| 8 | The grace of giving. |
| 9 | God desires all believers to give freely. |
| 10 | Paul’s warning against false teachers. |
| 11 | Paul rebuts false teachers. |
| 12 | Paul’s supernatural experience and his pain. |
| 13 | Paul’s third visit and benediction. |
| Bibliography |
Background:
The book of 2 Corinthians sheds much light on Paul’s Gospel Ministry and is one of his most personal letters. The young Timothy’s timidity made the believers at Corinth disobey Paul’s words. Then Paul sent Titus a tough man to Corinth to make sure the church obeyed the apostolic orders Paul had given them (2 Cor.7:13-15).
Meanwhile, the riot broke out in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41) which forced Paul to leave Ephesus. Paul had promised the Corinthians that he would visit them (1 Cor.16:3-7), but circumstances were such that he was delayed along the way. He had hoped to meet Titus at Troas (2:12-13), but this plan failed. At Troas, Paul did some preaching, then made his way to Macedonia. He and Titus finally met at Philippi (7:5-6), and Titus gave Paul the good news that the majority of members of Corinth church were behind him and would obey his word. As a result of this good report from Titus, Paul wrote 2-Corinthians letter. The following things can be seen in this letter:
- He expresses his thanksgiving for the church’s renewed repentance (7:15-16),
- He encourages them to complete their collection for the poor in Jerusalem ( 8-9), and
- He defends his ministry from those who had been falsely accusing him (3:1-6; 10:1-13:10).
It was this joy that prompted him to write this second letter to the Corinthians.
